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tralac Daily News
The South African economy recorded its fourth consecutive quarter of growth, expanding by 1.2% in the second quarter of 2021. This followed a revised 1.0% rise in the first quarter of the year. The transport, storage and communication industry increased by 6.9% in the second quarter and made the largest contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, namely 0.5 percentage points, data from StatSA showed.
The trade, catering and accommodation industry increased by 2.2% and contributed 0.3 of a percentage point to GDP growth. Increased economic activity was reported in wholesale, retail and motor trade, and there was increased spending on catering and accommodation services.
The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry increased by 6.2% and contributed 0.2 of a percentage point to GDP growth. The increase was mainly due to increased production of field crops, horticulture and animal products, Stats SA said.
South Africa’s updated NDC climate pledge to be released ‘very soon’ (Engineering News)
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy reported on Tuesday that South Africa’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which is to be deposited with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change later this year, is close to being finalised and will be presented to lawmakers “very soon”. In a briefing of the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, on the country’s preparations ahead of the COP26 climate negotiations scheduled for Glasgow, Scotland, in early November, Creecy reported that her department was in the process of synthesising the comments received during the public comment period, including those made by the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC).
Kenya sees tourism returning to normalcy in 2 years (Business Daily)
Kenya is launching a robust marketing abroad to lure more regional and international tourists whose numbers have slumped due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala assured international tourists that Kenya has invested heavily in the vaccination drive to keep both its citizens and visitors safe.
“We cannot ignore the international market ... it has its dynamics and advantages. We have heavily invested in domestic market tourism, Kenya has a thriving domestic market. Kenyans have been supporting the sector but we need to revive international market,” said the CS who spoke during an interview from Cape Verde.
“2024 is the time tourism will go back to normal. Health is going to be the first agenda in everyone’s mind when travelling so we need to vaccinate our people so that travellers can feel Kenya is safe,” he said. The UK is a top tourism source market for Kenya.
Kenya’s current account deficit has remained steady at 5.4 percent of GDP in the 12 months to July, as higher remittance and horticulture earnings balanced out lower service receipts and a rising import bill. Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) data show the current account—which measures inflows and outflows of hard currency—remained unchanged in the month. It was, however, higher in May at 5.5 percent, but CBK expects it to end the year at 5.2 percent.
A strong growth in imports as domestic consumption and production continues to recover has also weighed on the current account, with petroleum, food and industrial goods imports going up significantly this year. Food imports for instance hit a record high of Sh103.34 billion in the six months to June, a 13.6 percent increase on the corresponding period last year. Higher remittance and agriculture export earnings have however helped temper the widening of the deficit.
Kenyan truck drivers say they will resume cargo transport to South Sudan after a two-week boycott over insecurity on the country’s highways. This comes after the South Sudan government, which heavily depends on foreign supplies, assured the truckers of beefed-up security along the Juba-Nimule Highway. It is along this key road that several drivers were recently killed and their trucks torched by unknown gunmen, sparking the boycott.
On the government’s part, South Sudan Deputy Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Deng Dau Deng told local reporters on Monday that the deal was reached after several negotiations. He, however, didn’t specify whether it was a written agreement and if so, which countries had signed.
The Juba-Nimule highway connects Juba to the border with Uganda, the main route Kenyan drivers use to ferry goods to South Sudan. The highway is notorious for ambushes and illegal roadblocks by some of the militia groups in South Sudan.
South Sudan Freight Forwarders Associations chairman, Mr Emmanuel Kachoul Mayen, reckons the rebels’ motive is to disrupt the supply chain from Mombasa port to South Sudan and to discourage the business community and people of South Sudan who use Mombasa Port as their port of preference.
KPA seeks Sh17.4bn for Lamu port works (Business Daily)
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) says it requires Sh17.4 billion to buy equipment and complete the construction of the two berths at the port of Lamu. Tender documents show that the KPA targets borrowing Sh12.4 billion from local and foreign banks, of which Sh3.2 billion will be used to complete construction works at the port that is not yet fully operational.
The launch of the Lamu Port had been delayed thrice over the past two years due to funding challenges and incomplete construction of all three berths. As a result, it has only been able to attract ships that have their own gear for ship operations and roll-on/roll-off shipping like motor vehicle carriers as opposed to container shipping. The KPA says it needs to fund operations at the new port to generate money for servicing debt and creating room for borrowing to acquire new equipment.
That Kenya is now importing more food at the expense of consumers is not a surprise to anyone who has been in a supermarket recently. The cost of basic food stuff has gone up, some, like cooking oil, to eye-watering levels. Many households are having to tighten already tight belts in order to put a meal on the table. Kenya’s local food producers have over the years suffered recurring setbacks in their trade, forcing the country to import food to fill the gap. As reported by the Business Daily on August 23, 2021, the current food import bill stands at an unprecedented Sh103.34 billion between January and June this year. Up to 84 per cent of fish is imported with the largest percentage (70 per cent) coming from China alone. This has largely been attributed to underlying issues on policy and market systems development which have not fully addressed inputs supply, optimal utilisation of available water resources, breeds improvement and diversification, among other factors.
Uganda: Sugarcane growing: Is it a raw deal for farmers? (Daily Monitor)
Despite government earmarking sugarcane as one of the 14 strategic cash crops, it has not really transformed livelihoods and household incomes of the farmers who are commercially engaged in it. This is a consensus that most key stakeholders apart from some manufacturers of this commodity, largely concur with. According to an in-depth analysis of the sugar sub-sector, there is a massive variance between the livelihood and the income levels of the people engaged in sugarcane growing, raising the question whether this economic activity is worth farmers’ time or it is about time they ditched it for another viable venture.
The irony is that there has been increased cane production and milling capacity over the last two and half decades which essentially should result into potential employment opportunities with better incomes, reduced poverty and guaranteed food security.
Nigeria’s trade GDP growth and the AfCFTA (Nairametrics)
Nigeria’s GDP report for the second quarter was recently released showing that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.01% (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2021, marking three consecutive quarters of growth following the negative growth rates recorded in the second and third quarters of 2020. The growth represented the fastest quarterly growth in five years, with a single sector, the Trade Sector contributing about 16.66% of GDP, a sharp rise of 22% in Q2 2021, and its fastest since at least 2016. According to a recent report by Nairametrics, the reason for trade growth lies in an economic phenomenon termed base effects. In 2020, Nigeria’s trade sector suffered a massive contraction of 16.5%, at the time the 5th straight contraction that started in the third quarter of 2019 when the government announced its border closure.
The growth in Trade represents a major factor for the success of the African Continental Free Trade, (AfCFTA), and Nairametrics also recently reported that the Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, Mr Wamkele Menes revealed the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) would save the continent the sum of $5 billion annually when operational. He said: “There is an objective that one day, Africa would be a monetary union.” “Converting the about 42 currencies in Africa with its attendant cost of over five billion dollars yearly is a whole lot and so we want to reduce and eliminate this for the purpose of trading. “Local banks would be able to switch to the platform as we are in consultation with the central banks and by the end of the year, we would be in a position to say the platform is available for all African countries that want to switch to it.
Mr Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), says Ghana is well endowed with human and natural resources to spearhead Africa’s economic emancipation. He said with the country hosting the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Secretariat, it was imperative that individuals and businesses took advantage of the opportunity to strike partnerships for growth. The GIPC Boss said it was time Ghana moved away from exportation of raw materials to increase productivity and value addition.
Ghana is a fast-growing economy facing a plastics dilemma. Given the material’s favorable characteristics, plastics are a vital resource. It is used as an industrial input; ensures access to safe drinking water; and plays an important social role by enabling low-income populations to purchase safe drinking water, food, and other basic necessities, sold in low-priced miniature plastic sachets. At the same time, the growth of single-use plastics, estimated to be up to 70% of total plastics consumption, is resulting in a burgeoning plastic waste problem for Ghana. To address its plastic waste problem, Ghana needs to take urgent action to boost a more circular economy. With low plastic waste recovery and recycling rates of 12% and 10% respectively, Ghana could deploy policy instruments to stimulate domestic demand for recycled plastics and increase recovery and recycling rates. Industries such as consumer-packaged goods, construction, textiles, and Ghana’s newly emerging automotive sector could benefit from such interventions. Ghana could also evaluate its capacity to become a regional recycling hub. Stakeholders will need to assess the merits of this approach against the capacity to ensure environmental goals are met. A recent study commissioned by the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) and the Platform for Shaping the Future of Trade and Global Economic Interdependence – both initiatives of the World Economic Forum – highlights the realities of the plastics landscape in Ghana and how trade policy could be used to achieve a more circular economy and add to domestic interventions. Here are four ideas to consider:
High-speed fiber-optic link between Angola and DRC launched (Africa Science News Service)
Internet Technologies Angola (ITA), part of the Paratus Group, announces the launch of its high-speed fiber-optic link connecting Angola to DRC across Noqui (Angola) and Matadi (DRC). The 600-kilometre connection between Luanda and Noqui, with a capacity of up to 200 gigabits per second, will also provide internet services to municipalities along the route, including Nzeto, Tomboco and Mbanza Congo in the province of Zaire. Following substantial investment by ITA and Paratus Group, this link between Angola and DRC signals the first of many to be launched in the SADC region by the group.
With more inter-SADC fiber connections planned in 2022, this roll-out is part of the ITA/Paratus strategy to interconnect Angola with the region, through fiber, and to realise the group’s strategic vision for establishing Angola as a traffic hub within the SADC.
“For businesses in the SADC region, fiber-optic connectivity is essential”, says ITA Managing Director, Francisco Pinto Leite. “Fiber delivers high speed and reduced latency through a quality connection to the business community. The other key benefit is affordability because, for a comparable satellite connection delivering high bandwidth and speeds, fiber is actually around 70% cheaper.”
What you need to know about the African Continental Free Trade Area (African Business)
The African Continental Free Trade Area is an ambitious trade pact to form the world’s largest free trade area by connecting almost 1.3bn people across 54 African countries.
The agreement was brokered by the African Union (AU) and was signed by 44 of its 55 member states in Kigali, Rwanda on March 21, 2018. Trading under the agreement commenced on 1 January 2021, after a sixth month delay as a result of the impact of Covid-19. As of 27 August 2021, 38 of 54 signatories (70%) have deposited their instruments of ratification with the chair of the African Union Commission, according to the Tralac Trade Law Centre. The only country not to sign the agreement was Eritrea, which has a largely closed economy. The AfCFTA Secretariat, an autonomous body within the African Union based in Accra, Ghana, and led by secretary general Wamkele Mene, is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the agreement.
The vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo said to increase the competitiveness of African industries is to develop and deepen regional value chains. Osinbajo stated this at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) roundtable on industrialisation in Africa themed: ‘Positioning African Industries for Economic Transformation and Continental Free Trade’. According to the vice president, the theme for the roundtable is an important one. We must all, governments and private sector alike, pay close attention to ‘Positioning African Industries for Economic Transformation and Continental Free Trade.’ He noted that manufacturing is critical to economic transformation, saying that it has been key in adding value to agricultural products and minerals and has also been a major motor of economic growth because it boosts productivity. “Equally compelling from the perspective of Nigeria which has a large population is that manufacturing has the potential to create a large number of sustainable jobs. Given the large number of entrants into the workforce every year and the important role of employment in reducing poverty, there is no doubt at all that industrialization must remain a key priority for African countries,” he said.
He added that “One of the ways to increase the competitiveness of African industries is to develop and deepen regional value chains wherein production systems starting from conception and design right through to supply of raw materials, processing, transport, storage, marketing, and sales take place within our countries and continent. When we export commodities to the rest of the world, we are also exporting jobs and the positive spill over effects such as learning that come with manufacturing are lost.”
UAE targets new Kenya trade deal (Business Daily)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Kenya to consolidate its position as a gateway for global trade and investment. The UAE said this week the deal with Kenya, alongside six other countries including India, Indonesia, Turkey, UK, Israel, South Korea and Ethiopia will widen its access in the emerging markets. “These comprehensive agreements will help us get wider accessibility to those markets. We are talking about 10 per cent of the global trade and 60 percent of the global populations of those eight countries,” said Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade in a statement.
India-East Africa Community (EAC) to drive enhanced trade partnerships (Hindustan Times)
Indian Economic Trade Organization in association with the India Africa Trade Council organized the INDIA EAC SUMMIT in New Delhi on 3rd September which was attended by the High Commissioners of Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and the Ambassador of Zimbabwe in India. The motive was for building up bilateral business relations between both the countries of India and the countries in the EAC region namely Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Kenya. The event focused on the emerging relationships with the EAC region with various presentations by the Heads of Missions and thrust on developing partnerships that would be mutually beneficial to these regions especially post Covid 19.
The Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources of the Republic of Malawi, Hon. Nancy Tembo, on 5 September 2021 launched a Financing Facility to support transboundary conservation actions for Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). The SADC TFCA Financing Facility aims to reach a volume of EUR 100 Million in the medium to long term benefitting 18 Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in 16 countries and covering over 700 000 km2 of shared ecosystems in the SADC region. Speaking at the launch, Hon. Tembo noted: “The TFCA Financing Facility will complement efforts by governments of Southern Africa to develop sustainable financing mechanisms for conservation of nature which straddles across international boundaries in the region.” The SADC TFCA Financing Facility is a grant-making mechanism established to support development of TFCAs in the SADC region. The first phase of the financing facility currently funded by the German Government through KfW has an initial budget of €12 million with an overall ambition to reach a target of €100 million
Africa’s Tourism Leaders Identify Investments as Key to Sustainable Recovery (Modern Diplomacy)
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), launch a major new report today, addressing the complex issue of single-use plastic products within Travel & Tourism. ‘Rethinking Single-Use Plastic Products in Travel & Tourism’ launches as countries around the world begin to reopen, and the Travel & Tourism sector starts to show signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic which has been devastating. The report is a first step to mapping single-use plastic products across the Travel & Tourism value chain, identifying hotspots for environmental leakages, and providing practical and strategic recommendations for businesses and policymakers. It is intended to help stakeholders take collective steps towards coordinated actions and policies that drive a shift towards reduce and reuse models, in line with circularity principles, as well as current and future waste infrastructures.
Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President and Acting CEO, WTTC said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the sustainability agenda with businesses and policymakers now putting an even stronger focus on it. As a growing priority, businesses are expected to continue to reduce single-use plastic products waste for the future and drive circularity to protect not only our people, but importantly, our planet. “It is also becoming clear that consumers are making more conscious choices, and increasingly supporting businesses with sustainability front of mind.”
As the world prepares to convene the first UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy in 40 years, attention is focused on the importance of achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy. A new analysis by the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) sheds light on progress toward achieving this in Africa, and what still needs to be done to achieve SDG 7 in the years ahead.
On 31 August 2021, AEEP released the ‘European Financial Flows on SDG7 to Africa’ report. Looking at official development assistance (ODA) data and private sector investments over recent years (2014-2019), the report finds that while a lot remains to be done, SDG 7 is achievable in Africa. And, importantly, the cost of inaction is far greater – both in terms of the risk posed to achieving other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in financial terms.
Our look at overall energy investment in the region shows that African governments and institutions are leading the way to achieving their energy goals. In 2019 alone, African governments and developments banks spent €12.7 billion of public spending on energy in all its forms, with €10.1 billion of public sector expenditure financed by government revenues and debt. These strong public commitments show the central role that energy plays for many countries.
ECA cyber security week launched (UNECA)
The Economic Commission (ECA)’s Cybersecurity Week 2021 has kicked off in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and will run for three days from September 7 – 9. This is an effort by the Information and Communications Technology Services Section (ICTSS) to promote the culture of information security at the ECA, and its compliance with UN-wide cyber security policies.
It is estimated that about 80% of personal computers (PCs) in Africa are affected by viruses and malware. “Covid 19 has led to more cyber security risks as many individuals work at home sometimes on their computers and using their own routers, virus protection,” said Mr Cisse adding that the evolution of new technologies and rapid changes in workforce practices has resulted in one pf the greatest challenges for governments and organizations around the world. “Flurry of devices are moving rapidly from analog to digital, the phenomenon is a broad and complex terrain – the internet of things. Everyone needs to be aware of the risks of cybersecurity especially on data protection.”
Commodity dependence increased over the last decade from 93 countries in 2008–2009 to 101 in 2018–2019, according to UNCTAD’s State of Commodity Dependence 2021 report released on 8 September. The nominal value of world commodity exports reached $4.38 trillion in 2018–2019, a 20% increase compared with 2008–2009, the report shows. “Commodity dependence makes countries more vulnerable to negative economic shocks,” said UNCTAD’s commodities head, Janvier Nkurunziza. “It can have a negative impact on export and fiscal revenues and adversely affect a country’s economic development.”
Commodity export dependence in Africa and Oceania is particularly noteworthy, with more than three quarters of countries in both regions relying on commodity exports for more than 70% of their total merchandise export revenues, the report said.
UNCTAD’s largest technical assistance programme, ASYCUDA, is marking 40 years of helping customs offices around the world accelerate the clearance of goods and increase the pace of trade. ASYCUDA’s 2020 annual report released on 8 September outlines how the programme adapted its flagship software, ASYCUDAWorld, to help the countries using it hasten the import of essential medicines and goods as they tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNCTAD’s director of technology and logistics, Shamika N. Sirimanne, said: “Amid the pandemic, ASYCUDA has demonstrated flexibility and innovation, providing excellent value to user countries.” ASYCUDA has assisted 126 countries and territories over the past 40 years to improve their import and export processes. Its software is currently being used in 100 countries, including 39 least developed countries, 34 small island developing states and 21 landlocked developing countries.
According to recent UNCTAD analysis, most LDCs will likely take several years to recover the level of GDP per capita they had in 2019, and compared to developed countries, which may experience a short V-shaped recovery, the median LDC would take roughly three years to climb back to pre-COVID-19 levels of output per capita. Moreover, extreme poverty in LDCs is projected to rise to 35%, equivalent to 32 million people, due to the pandemic.
Confronted with looming fiscal distress, LDCs will need further long-term support to recover and address the structural economic challenges they face. Beyond the recovery, for LDCs to achieve inclusive development, global action should be geared towards supporting LDCs build their underdeveloped production systems.
During the 11th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting held in virtual format on 3rd September, 2021, with Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, chairing the meeting, discussed among the MSME sector of the member countries. The meeting was attended by Trade and Economic Ministers of BRICS Countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The MSME Roundtable was held to promote the cause of the MSME sector through learning of best practices amongst BRICS countries. India has also organized a number of B2B events through the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance to advance business cooperation in BRICS countries.
He stressed for the BRICS countries to work together for strengthening the Multilateral system, with WTO at its core, and need for a balanced and inclusive outcome in the forthcoming WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) keeping in mind the developmental needs of developing countries and Least Developed Countries. He highlighted the principles of Special & Differential Treatment and the “Common but Differentiated Responsibility”. He also emphasized, amongst other things, on the need for a permanent, adequate and equitable solution to the Public Stock Holding programmes for food security purposes; early outcome of the TRIPS Waiver proposal for vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics; adoption of emerging new technologies in a swiftly changing world while finding solution to the challenges of data protection and cyber security; and ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa may strongly oppose the proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) by the European Union at the 13th BRICS Summit on Thursday as the five developing countries will likely be the biggest losers from its implementation. In a veiled reference to CBAM, BRICS trade ministers last week cautioned that any measure to tackle climate change must be in conformity with multilateral trading rules and shouldn’t put arbitrary restrictions on international trade. “We underline that all measures taken to tackle climate change must be designed, adopted, and implemented in full conformity with WTO agreements and must not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade,” BRICS trade ministers said in a statement.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged African and Caribbean states to join hands in solidarity as the regions face common challenges. He was speaking during a virtual gathering of the inaugural Africa-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit where Heads of State from Caribbean nations and Africa were expected to discuss various issues including trade, investment and ways to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Investment prospects, climate change and food security will be among the topics discussed at the Egypt International Cooperation forum (Egypt-ICF), which opens today (September 8). The conference will try to “advance dialogue on international cooperation” as the global economy gradually recovers from the strain of a pandemic. The event, under the patronage of Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, the President of Egypt, will bring together national and international policymakers, multilateral and bilateral development partners, private sector, civil society, and think-tanks to join efforts in identifying the parameters of sustainable recovery. The two-day event, at Cairo’s Ritz-Carlton hotel, will also be streamed online on the forum’s website. It will comprise panel discussions, specialized workshops that delve into sector focus, capacity building sessions for participants, as well as development cooperation projects’ visits.
How African countries can benefit from plan to reform global tax (World Economic Forum)
As of July 2021, over 130 countries and jurisdictions, including many African countries, have joined a new two-pillar plan to reform global tax rules and ensure that multinational corporations (MNCs) pay their fair share of taxes irrespective of where they operate.
Pillar One of the Agreement on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) seeks to ensure a fairer distribution of profits and taxing rights among countries with respect to the largest multinationals including digital companies, while Pillar Two introduces a global minimum corporate tax rate that has the effect of protecting the tax bases of countries and putting a floor on tax competition amongst jurisdictions.
Today, many African countries are unable to tax highly digitalised businesses as a result of current international tax rules, which only allocate taxing rights to a country where non-resident businesses create sufficient physical presence in that country. With taxing rights of over $100 billion in multinational profits expected to be reallocated to market jurisdictions annually under Pillar One, ATAF argues that the rules will be effective measures that can be used to address the current imbalance in the allocation of taxing rights between source and residence countries which deny source countries such as African countries of much-needed tax revenue.
“The first and most important issue is that of the negotiations on fisheries subsidies reform. … Concluding these negotiations, which are now in their final stage, is the Organization’s number one priority and we hope that an agreement can be reached by the end of the year prior to our Ministerial meeting in November,” DDG Paugam said. “If I had just one message to convey here at the IUCN Congress, I would request everyone’s support in encouraging the governments engaged in these negotiations to secure an ambitious outcome.” DDG Paugam also cited discussions among several WTO members on plastics pollution, which could lead to new initiatives on marine litter, and stressed how broader discussions at the WTO on trade and the environment could assist ocean conservation. “My key message is that, among all the instruments of international cooperation, trade policy instruments can and must be mobilized for the health of the ocean,” he said.


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Koshiro - stock.adobe.com
Google has unveiled a number of partner programme updates designed to reward and encourage those that line up behind its current areas of focus.
The firm has used the backdrop of its Google Next event in London to share details of updates coming in 2024 that should see the channel, particularly system integrators and independent software vendors, given more support and funding.
Chief among the areas that will be backed by Google is the firm’s generative AI partner initiative, with the cloud giant sharing a fresh wave of names that have signed up, including Accenture, Automation Anywhere, BCG, Capgemini, Deloitte and Wipro.
At the same time, Crayon has also signalled it is working more closely with Google on the AI front, and will be offering the technology through its centres of excellence in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.
“Our customers and partners increasingly see the need for using generative AI to provide better services and solutions,” said said Crayon CEO Melissa Mulholland. “With our AI Centers of Excellence, we have the capabilities to help companies explore their own data and use it to accelerate their business. Google Cloud is a great partner to help customers get the best data and AI experience.
“Crayon’s long-time experience in digital transformation, its AI Centers of Excellence and deepening of its expertise on Google Cloud will help global business more quickly adopt and see value from AI,” said Bron Hastings, vice-president of partnerships at Google Cloud. “Through this new and growing partnership, we will work together to accelerate customers’ AI-driven transformations with Google Cloud technology, models via Vertex AI and expert services from Crayon.”
Google’s other announcements include increasing the number of partners that had earned its Google Cloud Ready – Sustainability designation. The firm also introduced a fresh expertise designation, Google SecOps Services Delivery Expertise, for channel players that get customers into its Chronicle SIEM or SOAR service.
Commitment to partners
Hastings and Helen Kelisky, managing director for UK and Ireland at Google Cloud, penned a joint blog outlining the enhancements and the supplier’s commitment to partners.
“Google Cloud is a partner-led business,” they wrote. “Our global partners have an opportunity to help customers create new value with AI technologies like Duet AI and Vertex AI, in critical areas like data modernisation and cloud migrations, and to augment their own products and platforms with Google Cloud gen AI.
“Coming into 2024, the total amount of incentives and rewards available for our partners are increasing in order to help partners address this opportunity,” they added. “For example, we plan to increase our funding by as much as 10X for both ISV and systems integrator partners to implement gen AI. We also plan to double our rewards for services partners who drive more workload adoption and accelerate adoption of strategic products.”
“We’re also continuing to grow the initiatives, tools and resources available to our partners to help them deliver optimal experiences for customers and create impactful, profitable businesses of their own.”

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TANDBERG and SilverLake Partners?
I was shocked the other day to learn about SilverLake Partners’ renewed interest in taking TANDBERG, the video communications endpoint manufacturer, private. This story first came up in the summer of 2008 but died away as it became clear that there may not be inexpensive debt available as the financial services sector fell into disarray in the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2008.
This project doesn’t make any sense to me. Usually Private Equity companies pick up tarnished brands with customers and products and takes them off the public equity markets in order to allow them to restructure their businesses – cut supply chain costs, reduce R&D costs and divert marketing away from winning new customers are three favorite tactics – to deliver predictable profits. It’s about mature management of companies serving mature markets all the while providing a steady hand on their operation to constantly generate profits.
TANDBERG is none of these.
It’s on a tear to break out of the video conferencing ‘box’ and has introduced hot new products for HD quality video on PCs, a new architecture in telepresence suites and great new configurations of its IP bridging technologies acquired as part of the well-integrated Codian deal. It’s well recognized as the leader in what is fundamentally a two-horse race (TANDBERG and Polycom) with particularly good offerings in the network infrastructure space including high density, high quality MCUs, despite Cisco’s efforts to change that dynamic. Furthermore, TANDBERG is well-managed, continuing to generate earnings improvements and extract revenue growth (single digit growth is quite respectable compared to Microsoft or Cisco which are both experiencing declining revenues) through very trying economic conditions.
SilverLake should save their coin for buying Nortel Enterprise or generating a rollup of smaller players to integrate with Avaya. How about Mitel which is already privately owned? How about ShoreTel?
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Microsoft, a corporation which develops, manufactures, licenses, supports and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers
Microsoft account with Bitcoin payments
As it is reported by Bleeping Computer, a Microsoft support staffer has told in an intreview that Microsoft is stopping supporting Bitcoin as a payment method for Microsoft products, because of unstable state of the Bitcoin currency. Moreover, it was reported that Bitcoin payments were stopped temporarily.
However, Microsoft will not allow users to buy products with Bitcoin directly but will require users to add a predetermined amount of dollars to their account balance, which can be payed with Bitcoin.
Previously, we have reported that Idom Inc., one of Japan’s used car automotive groups has partnered with bitFlyer to enable Bitcoin payments across Japan, and that Japanese retailer Bic Camera started accepting Bitcoin in all stores.
At the moment of press, these are main market parameters of Bitcoin:
- Average price: $14 603,00
- Marketcap: $245 180 719 250
- 24h volume: $15 923 400 000


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The majority of representatives of Brazilian companies participating in a mission to North Africa, organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex), believes in the possibility of closing deals in Morocco.
This Wednesday, May 29, they participated all day long in business roundtables with local businessmen, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Casablanca.
"We made 18 contacts, 11 of which were quite fruitful," said Daniel Schnorr, of Link Worldwide, which represents several factories of components for the shoe industry. The products most sought after, according to him, were leather, recycled leather, chemicals for tanning and finishing, cardboard for inner shoe soles, and synthetic textiles. "I believe that we are going to receive orders amounting to US$ 100,000 for a year," he claimed.
Ivini Granado, of the Predilecta Alimentos company, received 20 people interested in the food products that the company produces, such as guava sweet, tomato products, and jellies. "We are going to strike some deal, it is only a matter of time," she said.
According to Granado, the majority of the Moroccans with whom she talked are interested in becoming distributors for the brand, but she has not yet closed a deal to that extent. She believes that she will soon send one or two containers of merchandise to one of those contacts in order to test the market.
Márcio Lário, of Nitriflex, a manufacturer of synthetic rubber, who met 15 Moroccan businessmen, believes that at least one of them should place orders ranging from US$ 20,000 to US$ 30,000. The most demanded product was a styrene resin, used in the production of shoe soles.
Starret, a manufacturer of tools, represented by Sérgio Luis Teizen, made eight contacts. "One of them was quite worthwhile, it will yield results. The businessman who contacted us knows our brand, he knows the market. I am going to visit his company early tomorrow (today)," he said. Teizen estimates that an initial order of US$ 20,000 might be placed.
Edmilson Marcondes dos Santos, of Usmatic, a maker of irrigation equipment, believes that he is close to attaining his goal, which is finding a partner to establish an assembly line in North Africa. "Several candidates have appeared, and tomorrow (today) I am going to visit a local factory. We can operate in the entire African market," he claimed.
Braseco, a trading company represented by Damaris ívila da Costa, has made 20 contacts. "Most of them knew what they wanted, and they came seeking business," she said. According to her, there is demand for agricultural machinery, foodstuffs, and construction material.
Igor Kaufeld, of WK, which sells construction material, highlighted two contacts that might lead to business. "They want lots of material and they appreciated our products," he said. The most sought after products, according to him, were marble for floors and wood panels.
Latinex, which sells food products, established 15 contacts. "These are contacts to be worked on," said Eduardo Moraes, a representative for the company. The largest demands, according to him, were for fruit juices and canned foods. Moraes said, nevertheless, that there is much competition in the Moroccan markets, mostly of local products and of products imported from Spain. He also received a visit of a representative at Unimer, a large Moroccan company that operates in the fishery industry.
Paulo Roberto Cavalcante, from PMAN, which makes inputs for bakeries, attended a meeting with a Brazilian who lives in Morocco, and who is interested in representing the brand. As a member of the board at Perflex, a maker of bathroom metals, he was also contacted by importers who were interested in buying taps.
Andréa de Freitas Melo, of the Movexport consortium, was contacted by a businessman who is establishing a hotel and who is seeking suppliers of furniture, in addition to another who owns four showrooms and is one of Morocco's largest distributors. Melo said that both are seeking high-end furniture.
"The vast majority of businessmen believe in the possibility of closing deals. They realize that the potential here is high, but they also know that they need to keep working, to go back to Brazil, to have partners, and to attend other events," said the marketing vice president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Rubens Hannun, who is leading the mission. "They made lots of contacts, which in itself is good in order to get to know the local market. This adds to the information that they already had," he concluded.
One of the complaints of businessmen regarding the local market concerned tax rates, which may be as high as 70% for some products. Many of them said that the Mercosur must carry on as soon as possible with the negotiations for a fixed tariff preferences treaty with Morocco, a process that is already underway. The Moroccans have an agreement of this kind with the European Union, which makes European commodities competitive in the country.
Also yesterday, Rubens Hannun visited the Office des Foires et Expositions de Casablanca (Ofec), an organization that promotes business fairs in the city, which is the country's major economic hub. He was received by the director-general at the organization, Abdel-Ilah Mounib.
The goal was to see what type of fairs held at the site might be of interest to Brazilian companies in the future. There are events for the general public and sector-driven fairs, geared at medical and dental equipment, foodstuffs, agricultural products and machinery, and others.
Mounib suggested that eventually a fair be held turned exclusively to Brazil, which, besides the showcasing of products, would also feature cultural performances and cuisine. "Thus, with that cultural background, people might see Brazil in a more real way, with cheerfulness, culture, music etc. And the companies would benefit from that," said Mounib.
According to the director at Ofec, the institution owns a covered area of 20,000 square meters, and another 20,000 square meters of open space. The annual revenue of the organization is approximately 20 million Moroccan dirhams (US$ 2.4 billion), and the volume of deals closed during the events may reach as much as four times that amount, he said.
Anba – www.anba.com.br


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Last week, General Motors announced that it would be starting a new division called BrightDrop to sell electric vehicle solutions aimed at parcel delivery services beginning with a van called EV600 and an electric pallet called EP1. Now GM has announced that (subject to ratification by Unifor members) it is planning to spend $1 billion on its CAMI plant in Ingersoll, ON to build the EVs. That conversion would happen by late this year, making it the first large-scale EV plant in the country. CAMI is currently home to the Chevrolet Equinox crossover, and it’s not yet clear if that would change as a result of the new electric vans. The BrightDrop EV600 vans are set to start in a trial with FedEx by the end of this year, and GM says it has letters of intent with multiple delivery companies.
The government of British Columbia has announced a new plan to help businesses acquire electric vehicles to replace combustion engine vehicles. The Specialty-Use Vehicle Incentive (SUVI) would give business incentives of 33 per cent of the cost of a clean vehicle up to $100,000 (up from $50k), including EV or hydrogen-fuelled buses, service vehicles, and some other special-use vehicles. Tourism companies, including restaurants and other hospitality sector businesses will be eligible for double the rebate; 66 per cent up to a maximum of $100,000 per vehicle for medium or heavy-duty vehicles. “Our government is committed to supporting the tourism sector by capitalizing on forward-thinking initiatives of our CleanBC plan to rebuild this resilient, but hard-hit, industry,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
The Honda Ridgeline pickup has been refreshed for 2021, including new styling, a new gearbox, and brighter headlights as well as a new Display Audio system with volume knob and interior updated with contrast stitching for all. Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims get a new dash, wheel, and center console accents. The 2021 Honda Ridgeline is on sale now, set to hit dealers in February, starting from $44,355 (up $1,650) for an AWD Sport model and running to $53,055 for a top-trim Black Edition.
Hyundai showed off a teaser of the Ioniq 5, the latest EV from the automaker that will also be the next expansion of Ioniq into brand and not just model. It’s based on the 45 Concept shown in 2019, a modern car inspired by the 1974 Hyundai Pony. It will use Hyundai’s new E-GMP platform that will underpin a number of upcoming EVs from Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Hyundai says 96 km of charge in about five minutes and a household-style 120V plug to run your stuff, though is saying little else. The official debut will come next month. Hyundai continued to make news through the week confirming that it would be building a high-performance version of its small crossover. The Kona N model will get a 2.0-litre turbo-four from the Veloster N which we expect to make the same 275 hp, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The brand also expanded a recall first issued last year to cover 144,700 Tucson models built between 2016 and 2021 (except those with Smart Cruise Control) for an issue with the ABS system control module that could cause a fire. Hyundai will notify owners but is recommending they park outside and away from vehicles and structures until they get the fix.


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China Developer Seeks USD 1 Billion
China Developer Seeks to Raise USD 1 billion from Hong Kong stock market. - The Hong Kong- listed China property developer posted its biggest decline in more than 27 months last Friday on a plan to raise funds, Sunac said it priced its 251.5 million share placement at the low end of a marketed range. The developer said it expects to raise nearly USD 1 billion from the right issue. IPO wave in the market continues.


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30 November 2000
Buy local, urge NI farmers
By FWi staff
FARMERS in Northern Ireland have begun a fightback against falling incomes by launching a food promotion in the run-up to Christmas.
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Brid Rodgers launched the Northern Ireland Food Promotion Initiative on Thursday (30 November).
Ulster Farmers Union president Douglas Rowe said local consumers could help support the local food industry, which employs over 60,000 people.
Mr Row challenged food retailers to support “world class” local produce. He said: “Offer customers the choice of buying local produce and identify it clearly.”
“To consumers I say, support local produce this Christmas. To processors I say, source Northern Ireland produce – a world-class product on your doorstep.”
The UFU campaign will include in-store promotions, schools competitions and leaflets to 300,000 households in Northern Ireland.
The initiative has already been endorsed by the Prince of Wales.


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Auctions premium gaming and casino industry domain names during the CAC 2007, in Amsterdam May 3 - 5 at the NH Grand Krasnapolsky Hotel.
ICANN accredited registrar, today announced that it will be hosting the
first online silent auction of premium gaming and casino industry
domain names during the Casino Affiliate Convention 2007, in Amsterdam
May 3 - 5 at the NH Grand Krasnapolsky Hotel.
According to the company, all CAC 2007 attendees will have access to
this auction. Conference attendees will be provided with a free,
special password granting them access to the online auction and bidding
which will be hosted on the Moniker.com Web site. Individuals not
attending the CAC 2007 will also be able to participate by purchasing
an absentee bidder registration for US $99.
A confirmed casino and gaming related domain names that will be
available for purchase during the auction includes Poker.com,
Winner.com, Slots.com, Jackpots.com, Paigow.mobi, PlayersClubs.com,
ePoker.com, Craps.mobi, BettingOdds.com, Bingo.us, Gambling.org,
FreeTournaments.com, HoldemGuide.com, CasinoReview.com, TakingBets.com,
VegasSportsBook.com, PokerLessons.com, BlackJackOdds.com, Wager.co.uk
"As individuals continue to participate in online gaming and
entertainment, the need for a marketable domain name is now more
important that ever," said Monte Cahn, Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Moniker. "Events such as this silent auction at CAC 2007 are
critical events for online gamers who are interested in increasing the
scope and reach of their online business."


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There’s still much to be done, but power is gradually coming back to areas in the Northeast blacked out by Hurricane Sandy. Businesses are reopening, but under tough circumstances. Besides the power outage, it’s a nightmare to get supplies amid fuel shortages and snarled roads and ports.
In Manhattan’s Lower East Side, legendary smoked fish store Russ & Daughters has been bustling with hungry lox lovers. The store was able to protect its perishable goods during the storm and reopen on generator power Thursday, thrilling electricity-starved neighbors. It’s hard to imagine the shop closing long, because its fans hold it to high standards.
“Some people are exceptionally understanding, but this being New York, there are a lot of people who just want to get back into things and they want it now,” says fourth-generation co-owner Niki Russ Federman.
Serving the local clientele is challenging enough. But the iconic shop ships its cured fish and various specialty products nationwide. Those shipments just restarted Monday.
Russ Federman says her store is ready to catch up on its mail order business and has the fish to fill orders. But the shippers they work with have had trouble getting back up to speed.
“There’s such a shortage of gas that they’re trying to just do what they can and get pickups made however they can,” she sighs.
Harvard Business School logistics professor Ananth Raman divides the core challenges many other businesses in the storm region face into two problems: missing product and missing customer.
As for missing product, Raman says most shipping problems should be taken care of in time for the holiday season. The potentially larger problem is the missing customer, consumers who cut holiday spending because they need money for hurricane repairs and other unexpected expenses.
“It could easily affect a consumer electronics retailer,” Raman says. “It could affect clothing very, very substantially.”
Apart from taking care of basic needs, people with heavy storm impact may not shop for months, Raman adds. The Northeast makes up a fifth of America’s GDP, which means that any noticeable decline in spending in the region will be felt nationally.
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Watch Bethesda's E3 2017 Press Conference Livestream Right Here
If you want to watch Bethesda's press conference from E3 2017 in Los Angeles, you can do so right here.
At 9 PM PDT or 12 AM EDT, Bethesda is going to host its own press conference at E3 2017 in Los Angeles.
Bethesda teased the conference a little while ago, but all bets are on about what they will actually showcase. Could a new The Elder Scrolls title be at least teased? Or will the publisher surprise everyone with unexpected franchises and games?
You can check out the stream below, or the recording in case you missed it (it’s quite the Ungodly hour in Europe).
Of course, you’ll be able to read all the relevant news here on DualShockers.


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Care to guess what stock (with a market cap greater than $2 billion) is the ninth-best performer in the past 52 weeks? I’ll give you a hint: It’s Vancouver-based and caters to the yoga crowd. Yes, it’s none other than Lululemon (NASDAQ:LULU), the hottest retailer anywhere.
Its stock is up 154% in the past year while the S&P 500 is down double-digits. Its supporters swear by its product, and same-store sales numbers suggest this lovefest isn’t going away anytime soon. However, its stock is down 25% in the past month — an unpleasant summer surprise for its shareholders. And I have advice for those shareholders: Hang on. The worst has yet to come.
Despite a 25% adjustment in its stock price, its enterprise value still is 25 times EBITDA. Meanwhile, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), which appears to have more money than the U.S. government, trades at 10 times EBITDA. This is particularly puzzling because although Apple is a retailer, it also is a significant player in the technology biz — and we know from past experience how ridiculous tech valuations can get.
The fact of the matter is this: Apple is outgrowing Lululemon almost 2-to-1. In their most recent quarterly reports, Apple’s revenue and earnings per share increased 82% and 125%, respectively, while Lululemon’s revenue and EPS grew 35% and 70%. Although we aren’t comparing the same quarters, I think you get the picture. Apple is a steal in comparison.
I didn’t think Gap (NYSE:GPS) could, but it has fully committed to growing its brand, Athleta, most likely to give Lululemon fits in the coming years. Today, it has four stores open; two in San Francisco and two in New York City, with openings in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Minneapolis scheduled for the coming months. By 2013, it expects to have 50 stores open in the U.S., compared to Lululemon’s present 81 and about 10 additions per year from 2011-13 for a grand total of 111. Suddenly, the competition is heating up.
It’s important to remember that Lululemon’s had stores open in the U.S. since 2003. Athleta’s first store opened in 2010. Despite a big head start, Athleta can and will make up the difference before the end of the decade. How do I know this? It’s the only growth brand Gap has available. The rest are tired and receiving oxygen.
Exact revenue numbers for Athleta are difficult to ascertain because they are part of “other” revenue and include segments like Piperlime and its wholesale business. However, I’d guess about 80% of the $246 million in 2010 revenue is attributable to Athleta. I base this estimate on the fact Gap paid $150 million in 2008 to buy the lifestyle brand, which is about 0.76 times forward sales.


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Pacific Jeans Group’s one concern Pacific Knitex Limited has achieved Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate for existing building design by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), an upgrade from the previous gold certificate, according to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
The Chattogram-based Pacific Knitex Limited scored 85 in the latest assessment by the United States Green Building Council. With the latest one, Bangladesh becomes the home of 73 LEED-certified platinum factories, where most of them are green garment factories. Pacific Knitex Limited is the 63rd position. entered in the top 100.
Late Mir Nasir Uddin started the Group in 1984. And it is the pioneer in making premium jeans in Bangladesh, exporting to over 50 countries. Pacific Jeans Group, a leading Bangladeshi apparel exporter, is currently investing $31.75 million to increase production and achieve its goal of reaching the $1 billion export mark within the next five years.


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Petra Looking to Sell One of Its Mines in South Africa
The diamond miner wants to find a “technically and financially suitable” buyer for Koffiefontein.
Petra said in conjunction with its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partners, Kago Diamonds (Pty) Ltd. and the Itumeleng Petra Diamonds Employee Trust, it is exploring a “responsible” exit from the mine.
According to a history of the mine provided by Petra, diamonds were first discovered on the Koffiefontein farm in 1870, and De Beers acquired control of the site in 1911.
The open-pit mine went underground in 1974, and De Beers completed the sale of the mine to Petra in 2007.
The current life-of-mine plan calls for Koffiefontein to operate until FY 2025.
Petra, which just completed a restructuring after failing to find a buyer itself, would like to find a “technically and financially suitable buyer” that could extend the life of the mine, which includes 1.11 million carats in indicated resources.
If not, it will move forward with the current plan to close the mine by 2025. The company said it already has begun “right-sizing” the operation, a process likely to involve layoffs.
Petra has hired Questco Corporate Advisory to manage the potential sale of the mine.
All interested parties should contact Questco by May 9. The contacts are: Ciska Kloppers at +27 82 303 4826, Kaveshan Subramanian at +27 73 201 4359, or via email to email@example.com.
Based in the U.K., Petra has interest in three underground mines in South Africa—Koffiefontein, Finsch, and Cullinan, all former De Beers mines—as well the open-pit Williamson mine in Tanzania.
Cullinan is known for producing large diamonds, including the largest known rough diamond recovered to date.
The mine also produced the 39.34-carat chunk of rough that became the “De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond,” a 15.10-carat fancy vivid blue that just sold for nearly $58 million at Sotheby’s.
Gemologists have long used machines in diamond grading but technology has made it possible for them to “learn” how to do it on their own.
Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by IGI
Watch retailers Jeffery Bolling and Bobby Bengivengo discuss employee training, customer education and the sticky subject of future value.
The most trusted diamond report, available in print or the GIA App.
The company has plans to revamp the Movado brand and offer less expensive watches this year.
Set with a 118-carat unheated Sri Lankan sapphire, it just sold for $3.4 million at Phillips jewelry auction in Hong Kong.
Sponsored by Noam Carver
Navigate origin determination with Continuing Education seminars offered by the GIA Alumni Collective™.
As cybercrime incidents threaten the industry, jewelers need to know what they’re up against and the best ways to protect their businesses.
The Pittsburgh jeweler is redoing the lighting and showcases, and adding a full hospitality bar as well as new shop-in-shops.
Zale has more than 40 years’ experience in the diamond industry, including 17 years as Stuller’s VP of diamonds and gemstones procurement.
The Strip is full of new restaurant and entertainment offerings.
National Jeweler’s senior editor covering fashion, trends, and design highlights the latest looks in the market.
From what ChatGPT is to how to use it, this is the explainer tailored to jewelers.
The D-color, internally flawless, Type IIa stone will be offered without reserve.
When it comes to pricing jewelry repairs, you should start by asking a simple question about the piece at hand, Peter Smith writes.
The industry veteran will serve as the diamond jewelry supplier’s head of business development.
He is the company’s new senior vice president of sales and business development.
The Tennessee school’s CAD Academy is now offering training in Gemvision’s MatrixGold software.
Blackstone is buying the 80 percent stake in the lab owned by a Chinese company as well as the 20 percent held by the Lorie family.
The company confirmed it will be combining the auctions for the fifth and sixth sales cycles into one.
Among other changes, Stanley Zale, the former vice president of diamonds and gemstones, is leaving the company after 17 years.
One new addition was announced at the Conclave membership breakfast.
The 28-piece collection is the largest to be offered at auction.
The deal could be signed as early as this weekend, according to a report by The Economic Times.
It’s an ultra-luxurious version of the designer’s signature style.
Four guests join Michelle Graff and Amanda Gizzi to discuss the importance of being organized and what shoes they wear at the shows.


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Checks, payment orders, collection orders, bank cards, goods, and a select few payment instruments considered acceptable by the State Bank may still be used, but cryptocurrency is now officially an "illegal means of payment."
The government will no longer allow payments to be made in cryptocurrency, and the issue, supply, or use of Bitcoin -- or other digital currency types -- is prohibited.
If law enforcement catch payments being made or accepted in cryptocurrency, the parties involved can be subjected to a fine of between VND 150 million and 200 million, or roughly $6000 -- $9000.
"As of January 1, 2018, the act of issuing, using, or using illegal means of payment (including Bitcoin and other similar virtual currency) may be subject to prosecution," the notice reads.
The changes are based on orders from Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, issued earlier this year, to develop a legal framework to control cryptocurrency.
There is no reason given for the ban in the notice, but it is potentially due to a clash between traditional financial banking structures and modern, alternative offerings based on the blockchain and cryptocurrency.
The move also appears to be similar to activity in Indonesia. Earlier this month, Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Agus Martowardojo said that Bitcoin is not a valid form of payment in the country and users of the cryptocurrency "would be dealt with."
However, not every financial institution reflects this attitude. In August, Swiss private banking group Falcon Private Bank said they are creating a framework for consumers to trade Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Bitcoin (BTC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH).
While China is attempting to smother cryptocurrency exchanges and new services, Vietnam has not gone quite as far -- yet.
The bank's ruling does leave mining and the use of blockchain technologies alone, and so traders in the area can still operate as long as they do not use their proceeds to buy or sell products. It appears that should virtual currency be converted into traditional currency first, this may be acceptable.


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The trend is clear. It is called “China Plus One”, writes the Danish newspaper ErvervsBladet.dk.
The rising wage pressures in China, Danish firms are forced to move some of their production to cheaper areas like to Vietnam, but they continue working at the Chinese market. Now to sell “Vietnamese products” to Chinese consumers. Vietnam is now becoming the most popular production destination.
“Vietnamese sub-suppliers are much sought after at the moment. Its the first country Danish companies ask for when they come us”, trade adviser at Danmarks Eksportråd Erik Ovesen says, pointing to low-cost production, approachable authorities and a Vietnamese learning readiness as reasons why Vietnam has just been the new production oasis.
He has this year alone been contacted by ten smaller Danish companies, which will establish production in Vietnam, and thereby join nearly 100 other Danish companies that are already in the country.
Apart from major Danish companies like Carlsberg and Maersk its predominantly smaller companies which are trying their luck in Vietnam. That’s because, Erik Ovesen tells ErhvervsBladet.dk, that the establishment can be done relatively pain-free – it’s not subject to demands for high initial capital to establish them in Vietnam.
“The Danish company can establish a subsidiary in Vietnam with a single owner. The Vietnamese authorities only require that they can see where it originates, and who runs it. It’s easy and free of red tape and can be done within two months”, explains Erik Ovesen, who believes that although companies in the future might prefer to produce in the low-cost Vietnam, many will still stay in China to establish sales company.
“A large domestic market and Chinese purchasing power makes it attractive to stay”, he said to ErhvervsBladet.dk.
One of the companies that are already in Vietnam is The Rynkeby company, Orana, which produces fruit-based semi-finished products to, among other things, soft drinks and dairy products sold worldwide. They produced in Vietnam since 2003.
“One of the reasons why we began in Vietnam was the high custom tariffs. The Vietnamese low wages, and that the Vietnamese are hard-working, was other reasons. Finally we got shorter shipping time to our customers in Asia. For us it was a success criterion to have a good local partner who knows the Vietnamese system and bureaucracy and can overcome language and cultural barriers”, says Betina Mold Rasmussen, who is responsible for Oranas project coordination.
“Finally, the support from DANIDA was decisive. It meant that we could transfer technology from Denmark to Vietnam and train local staff. Investment Fund for Developing countries (IFU), who are fellow shareholder, has further helped us to improve the quality of the board”, says Betina Mold Rasmussen and stresses that help from DANIDA and IFU has been indispensable.
Erik Ovesen of Danmarks Eksportråd agree that we should seek appropriate advises.
“You have to ally itself with the Danish embassy or other consultants. On the whole, we must make every process thoroughly. You have to get acquainted with the Vietnamese culture and history, and we will investigate all circumstances. We simply owes that to the people”, said Erik Ovesen.
He estimates that Vietnam, which just 15 years ago was on the list of the world’s ten poorest countries, is geared towards the recovery by increasing production in the country will lead – with reservations though:
“When growth goes as fast as it does right now, there will be bottlenecks. The pressure can lead to bureaucracy in the application process, a slow start when it comes to time in production, and difficulties finding employees. But for those companies that are preparing thoroughly and invest in preparing for incursion into Vietnam, there are good business opportunities”, said Erik Ovesen to the Danish newspaper ErhvervsBladet.dk.


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The technology giant’s revenue increased 54% in the first three months. After-sales share increased by 4%.
The case is being updated.
On Wednesday night, Apple announced its accounting data for the second quarter of 2021:
According to Bloomberg’s estimates, initial revenue was $77.3 billion, and earnings per share were $0.99.
The turnover in the first three months of this year exceeded NOK 730 billion.
According to the report, iPhone sales revenue was 47.94 billion U.S. dollars, while Mac sales revenue was 9.1 billion U.S. dollars.
Compared with last year, they have increased by 65.5% and 70.1% respectively.
Apple’s market value is $2.2 trillion. In Wednesday’s trading, technology stocks rose 4%.
Apple did not have any profit expectations for the quarter as it did before the pandemic.
However, Apple warned that it will increase stock buybacks to $90 billion, and the company will also increase its dividend to $0.22 per share.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple will be asked how Apple is affected by the global chip shortage and increased vaccination.
In the first quarter, Apple’s quarterly revenue exceeded $100 billion for the first time, mainly driven by iPhone sales.
Apple’s fiscal year is different. This means that the technology giant’s fiscal year starts in October and ends at the end of September.


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It appears that many people may be concerned about debt as new statistics have shown that almost two-thirds of Britons spend time worrying about their…
It appears that many people may be concerned about debt as new statistics have shown that almost two-thirds of Britons spend time worrying about their finances.
Figures released by Scottish Widows reveal that 66 per cent are stressed out by their monetary woes, spending an average of 11 hours a week doing so.
This means that individuals are using 24 days a year contemplating their cash situation.
On average, the study found young people to worry the most, with men spending more time concerned than women.
Rosanna Spero, a personal finance journalist, said: “As a nation it seems we’re simply not that confident when faced with issues such as financial products, as well as our understanding of the current economic situation.”
Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor Vince Cable recently stated that there was still a “worrying uncertainty” regarding the current job market – and therefore people’s economic stability – as a result of the recession.
By Joe Shervin


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Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (L) meets with Ueli Maurer, president of the Swiss Confederation, in Zurich, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan said here Monday that China stands ready to work with Switzerland to further promote bilateral ties and cooperation, particularly in the field of innovation.
Wang, who is paying a visit to the European country on Monday and Tuesday, made the remarks in his talks with President Ueli Maurer of the Swiss Confederation and at a business dialogue on innovation attended by both leaders.
The China-Switzerland relationship has been developing rapidly over recent years and has now reached its best level in history under the guidance of both countries' leaders, Wang said during the talks.
He noted that economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has kept deepening, political mutual trust has increased markedly, and bilateral friendship is gaining ever more public support.
Switzerland, he added, is one of the first Western countries to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, has taken the lead in multiple areas of cooperation between China and European countries, and has played an exemplary role in promoting China-Europe cooperation.
Despite their differences in size, stage of development and genes of civilization, the two countries respect each other's development path and have always treated each other equally and pursued friendly cooperation, Wang said, adding that the 2016 establishment of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership has charted the course for the future development of bilateral ties.
The two sides, said Wang, are highly complementary in such areas as economy, trade, finance, manufacturing, medicine and health care, where they can carry out win-win cooperation.
Calling the China-Switzerland free trade agreement an example of success in bilateral cooperation, Wang said China is ready to work with Switzerland to speed up the joint study on upgrading the deal, so as to infuse stronger impetus into their economic and trade cooperation.
Meanwhile, the continuous opening-up of China's financial sector has created new opportunities for bilateral financial cooperation, he said, adding that Beijing encourages Chinese financial organizations to operate in Switzerland and invites Swiss ones to expand their business in China.
He suggested that the two countries explore cooperation in such areas as smart manufacturing, digitization and new energy, so as to enrich the China-Switzerland high-level innovation cooperation platform devised by their leaders.
China and Switzerland, he added, should also step up people-to-people exchanges and tourism cooperation, so that they can further consolidate the public support for bilateral relations.
The vice president also expressed the hope that the two countries will carry out active consultations on an inter-governmental cooperation agreement within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and achieve positive results at an early date.
Addressing the business dialogue on innovation, Wang noted that Switzerland is one of the most innovative countries in the world, and that China also attaches great importance to innovation.
To build China into an innovative country, Wang said, Beijing is committed to pursuing innovation-driven development, promoting the rule of law, improving market order and strengthening protection of intellectual property rights.
Noting that the pioneering spirit is the most prominent feature of China-Switzerland relations, Wang said the business dialogue on innovation is a concrete measure to implement the consensus reached in 2017 by the two countries' leaders on establishing the China-Switzerland high-level innovation cooperation platform.
China and Switzerland, Wang said, should stick to openness and inclusiveness and join hands to promote the building of a high-level open world economy.
The two sides should cement mutual understanding and trust, he said, adding that they should understand both the present and the history of each other, so as to jointly plan for the future.
The two sides should boost confidence and maintain patience, he said, stressing that China will open wider to the outside world and, with its market of 1.4 billion people promising enormous possibilities, stands ready to share development opportunities with other countries.
The two sides should seize opportunities and bravely promote reform, he said, urging Chinese and Swiss enterprises to share innovation outcomes and make concerted efforts to forge global industrial, innovation and value chains.
The two sides should also improve business environment and guide bilateral cooperation, Wang said, calling on the two countries' governments to establish reasonable and efficient institutions and provide strong policy support for corporate operations.
For his part, Maurer said his country and China have maintained a long-running friendly relationship, with frequent high-level mutual visits and ever deepening political mutual trust.
China has made admirable achievements in national development, said the president, adding that Switzerland respects China's history, culture, development path and institutions, and adheres to the one-China policy.
Noting that the Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to promoting cross-border trade and investment, the Swiss leader said he looks forward to leading a delegation to China later this year for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
Switzerland, Maurer added, is willing to work with China to accelerate the joint study on upgrading the two countries' free trade deal, and boost bilateral cooperation in such areas as trade, finance, technology, medicine, digital economy, people-to-people exchanges, education and tourism, so as to create more mutual benefits.
The visit is the first leg of Wang's trip to Switzerland, which will also take the Chinese vice president to the snow-capped Alpine town of Davos for the 2019 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.


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4 Ways You Can Help Protect Your Customers and Your Business
By Larry Brennan
A single data breach can seriously damage a small business’ finances and wreck customer loyalty. Just one instance involving a breach of personal or payment data could lead to a loss of more than 20 percent of a business’s customer base, according to a recent report from my company, Bank of America Merchant Services.
Fortunately, the report – based on surveys of more than 500 U.S. small businesses and over 500 consumers – showed that business owners are taking steps to improve their security and business practices.
The cost of a data breach
Many small businesses are at risk for data breaches—and those breaches can be costly. Our study found that among the small businesses that reported a data breach in the past two years, nearly 40 percent suffered more than $50,000 in losses. This is an increase from 2017, when just 31 percent of businesses reported breach-related financial losses on the same scale.
Breaches also erode consumer trust, and age plays a role. For example, consumers ages 18 to 29 are twice as likely as those over the age of 65 to avoid small businesses that have experienced a data breach, according to the survey.
How to protect your business
Fortunately, the study found small business owners are taking steps to help combat counterfeit card fraud and protect consumer and business data. The measures they’re taking include:
- Employing EMV chip-card technology. Two-thirds of small businesses are now using EMV chip-card technology at the point of sale (POS), which can help them reduce the risk of accepting counterfeit cards. EMV chips generate a single-use encrypted code, while a PIN helps reduce the risk of a lost or stolen card being misused.
- Reducing employee risks. Small business employees can trigger security risks, often inadvertently. Owners and operators are working to reduce the threat of exposure by using firewalls and strong passwords, blocking unsecure sites on business devices, and restricting POS devices to strictly processing transactions and other business tasks.
Four steps to take right now to protect your business in 2019
For small businesses that want to protect against breaches – and the financial and reputational impact they have – I advise implementing these four actions immediately.
- Use a POS solution that encrypts and tokenizes payments data. Look for a POS that offers point-to-point (P2PE) or end-to-end (E2EE) encryption along with tokenization. Encryption helps protect sensitive payment card data against theft or exposure at the point of sale. A token is provided and stored in the merchant’s environment. Tokens are useless to cybercriminals. These dual layers of security measures keep card numbers out of your system so your business and customers’ card information is protected in the event of a data breach.
- Restrict network use on payment systems. If you are allowing any additional network use, such as email or internet browsing, on a system that is used for payment processing, you are needlessly risking exposing data. Thieves often target remote access systems connected to the internet. Using email or internet on these systems increases a fraudster’s ability to access the credit card processing environment, which could ultimately result in a data compromise.
- Ensure proper system access management. Changing passwords is still one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect data. Require changes to complex passwords at least every 90 days and encourage employees at every level not to share their username or password with others.
- Achieve and maintain Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS). PCI-DSS standards protect the safety of cardholder data with updated standards for security policies, technologies and everyday business processes. Your payments provider can help guide you through the process.
As costs associated with combating a breach of customer or payments data continue to rise, it’s imperative that small business owners take action to mitigate risks. A trusted payments partner can you help determine which technologies are most appropriate for your business’ size, industry and customer base – so you can focus on what’s most important: growing your business.
Larry Brennan is the SVP, Merchant Data Security and Cybersecurity at Bank of America Merchant Services


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The holiday season is considered the most wonderful time of the year for many reasons, only one of which is the delicious, festive desserts. From Christmas cookies, to holiday-themed cupcakes, to elaborate gingerbread desserts, the treats are endless. But across the country, go-to holiday sweets vary. Instagram rounded up America's favorite holiday cookie by state, and it turns out a lot of people like sticking to the basics: shortbread, sugar cookies, snickerdoodle, etc.
The social media platform collected its data based on the likes and mentions of different cookies over the past month from in-feed and Instagram story posts, a press released explained. Based on the number of votes for each cookie, Instagram concluded that peanut butter and sugar cookies tied for the most popular holiday cookie, each with 10 states that preferred them others. Shortbread, crinkle, oatmeal, gingerbread, snickerdoodle, and classic chocolate chip cookies were also included in the survey.
After peanut butter and sugar cookies, shortbread came in second with eight states —Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, and Montana, just to name a few — choosing it over any other cookie during the holiday season. Crinkle cookies and gingerbread cookies followed with six and seven states, respectively, preferring to keep a little holiday spirit alive in December. Gingerbread cookies were popular up and down the east coast, whereas the crinkle cookie-lovers were more spread out, in places like Idaho, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and New Mexico.
Coming in at the bottom of the list, with a lower amount of state votes, are oatmeal cookies and snickerdoodle, both of which four states turn to for their sweet fix during the holidays. Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are all about oatmeal cookies, while Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Virginia are die-hard snickerdoodle fans. Surprisingly enough, only one state's residents chose chocolate chip cookies as their favorite — shout-out to Illinois.
See the full results here.
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Lightening the mood: Bakery offers corona-themed cupcakes, including stylized TP confection
COAL GROVE — A local bakery is trying to bring a smile to people during a frustrating time.
Sugar & Spice Sweets To Go in Coal Grove is offering two specialty cupcakes for pickup, themed around the current state of emergency surrounding the coronavirus.
One is a corona lime cupcake, owner Heidi Clark said, which is a yellow cupcake with lime shavings.
The other is a chocolate cupcake, topped with a roll of toilet paper, made from fondant icing.
“I’m just trying to lighten the mood,” Clark said. “And to give a little comic relief to a dire situation.”
Clark offers the cupcakes in a “quarantine quality time box” for $15, which includes two cupcakes, two brownies, two cookies, a half-pound of homemade buttercream and assorted sprinkles.
The bakery has been in operation on Marion Pike since 2011 and Clark also owns Spice of Life catering, established in 2007, though she said that has been shut down by the emergency orders issued by Gov. Mike DeWine.
Clark said the creations have been well received and people have been buying large qualities to take back to offices.
“We’re just trying to keep up with the demand,” she said.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/sugarandspicecoalgrove on Facebook.
In just one week, Ohio has seen a massive surge in unemployment claims due to the closure of many businesses... read more


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If you are able to get chocolate while they say it is the end of the world, should not you be able to get books too? This was a question posed by a Kerala bureaucrat, who did not want to be named, when asked about a central puzzle in the ongoing tussle between center and the state.
The question assumes importance in the new debate that has emerged between the center and states on what to be exempted and not during the partial easing of the lockdown. Hardly it gets as peculiar as with Kerala’s case of books.
Kerala wanted to establish its own list of services that can be deemed as vital, as it moved to ease the lockdown in some of its parts that are not hotspots this week. The move was supposed to allow a resumption of operations at micro-and-small-scale industries within municipal limits, restaurants, motor vehicle repair shops, barbershops— and true to its cent-literate stature, book stores too.
But those edicts have raised questions from the center. Hours after Kerala’s move, a spokesperson of the Union home ministry tweeted that the state “has allowed the opening of activities, prohibited under Consolidated Revised Guidelines”. The tweet had attached a 19 April letter sent to Kerala’s chief secretary Tom Jose on the matter, advising the state to comply with the orders “without any dilution”. The move forced Kerala to revoke some of the relaxations, but book stores were allowed to operate on two days in a week.
So, are books essential in a pandemic? In Kerala, nearly everyone agrees. For instance, when the country-wide lockdown began, one of the firsts things two of the biggest Malayalam movie stars, Tovino Thomas and Manju Warrier, did was to rush out to buy books, said a person who was privy to the sales, requesting anonymity.
Thomas went to a book store in central Kerala and purchased a bag full of books worth ₹10000, the person said. Warrier could not get out, so she got herself home-delivered some of the top-selling titles by Malayalam authors such as Benyamin and TD Ramakrishnan, while she was hunkered down under stay-at-home orders, the person added.
For the publishers, who have been reeling from no revenue for more than 40-days into the lockdown, the answer to that question is a big yes, so much so that there has been intense lobbying from vested interests to get books into the essential lists, much like the other fascination of Malayalees, alcohol.
“It is most essential, not just essential, for Malayalees,” said Ravi DeeCee, Managing Director of DC Books, the Kerala-based publishing giant who oversaw such an effort. To their favour, he said, the administration remained positive on the need for book stores to be opened.
“There are more than 100 publishers in Kerala, publishing more than thousands of titles every year. The kind of readership and sales in Kerala is always on the rise. Even if you look at something like PDF piracy in Kerala, you won’t see that anywhere else in India,” he said.
“Since the lockdown began, we were flooded with requests from reading groups and individuals asking us can we buy one book at least. The government has taken note of it and agrees that it is part of the mental health of the public,” said Dee Cee.
“We put up this memorandum to the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for book stores to be open and he responded within eight hours. Now we have also asked if the government can purchase 25% books from all publishers since this is a crisis situation. The 25% can be calculated using the three years average sales of publishers. Currently, we are given a breather of two days opening, Tuesdays and Fridays,” he said.
Being the only buyer for books, the bibliophile in Kerala has suddenly become a hero for other major publications in India too. “Since the lockdown started, physical book sales went to zero. You are not getting any money. So when Kerala announced book stores are opening, it was kind of a relief. That felt like some sort of normalcy is beginning. We expect soon other parts of the country will start to do the same. It’s just that sense of relief,” the person said.


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Regardless of Bitcoin (BTC) no longer but rising as an “asset elegance according to se,” JPMorgan considers it vital to satisfy the call for for cryptocurrency funding, in line with a senior wealth control government.
A lot of JPMorgan shoppers see virtual currencies like Bitcoin as an asset elegance, the corporate’s director of asset and wealth control Mary Callahan Erdoes mentioned.
In a Bloomberg interview launched Tuesday, Erdoes stressed that the financial institution will proceed offering crypto products and services to satisfy the rising call for, pointing out:
“A large number of our shoppers say that’s an asset elegance, and I wish to make investments, and our task is to lend a hand them put their cash the place they wish to make investments.”
Erdoes mentioned that the talk about whether or not cryptocurrencies represent an asset elegance continues to be ongoing as many professionals are involved concerning the marketplace’s excessive volatility.
“It’s an overly non-public factor. We don’t have Bitcoin as an asset elegance according to se,” Erdoes said, including that it continues to be observed whether or not the cryptocurrency is a shop of worth. “The volatility you notice in it lately simply has to play itself out,” she concluded.
Probably the most biggest funding banking establishments in america, JPMorgan is understood for its relatively combined stance on crypto, with CEO Jamie Dimon referring to Bitcoin as “fraud” again in 2017. The corporate has since softened its stance at the trade, reportedly making ready to launch an actively managed Bitcoin fund in addition to launching debt instruments with direct publicity to a basket of crypto-focused corporations.
JPMorgan analysts were carefully tracking the crypto marketplace, with crypto professional Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou forecasting that Bitcoin will hit $145,000 as its long-term “theoretical goal.” In past due June, JPMorgan mentioned that institutional buyers had little appetite for buying the dip, with strategists reiterating that Bitcoin could be buying and selling between $23,000 and $35,000 over the medium time period.


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Following the stunning debut of its opulent but streamlined electric car
Lucid Motors made a commitment to reinvent the SUV market with the launch of a new
model that would provide the same level of elegance and performance as the Lucid Air.
By revealing the new Gravity SUV at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show, the EV manufacturer
The very aerodynamic Gravity is shown by Lucid as an extremely thrilling electric SUV
that combines a number of characteristics and aspects never seen in a single car.
The newest generation of the automaker's exclusive ultra-compact electric engine technology
Power-dense electric vehicle (EV) motors and an upgraded version
the automaker's 900V electrical architecture comprise Gravity's unique powertrain.
This allows Gravity to reach 60 mph from 0 mph in less than 3.5 seconds, with a payload capability of over 1,500
pounds and a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.A new Gravity electric SUV, according to Lucid
According to Lucid, consumers may increase their range by up to 200 miles in only 15 minutes


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WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Fifteen leaders of the prepaid phone call industry gathered in Washington, D.C. this week and agreed to create an industry association. The new association, to be called the American PrePaid Phonecall Association, will focus on promoting high value prepaid telephone services to consumers and serving as the voice of the industry.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120125/NY42077-a )
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120125/NY42077LOGO-b )
Gustavo M. de la Garza Ortega, the president of Marcatel and a recognized international leader in the telecommunications sector, was elected Chairman, and Pete Pattullo, CEO of NetworkIP, was elected Vice Chairman. Gene Retske, who recently retired as editor of The Prepaid Press, will serve as the Executive Director and will oversee day to day operations.
The group of industry leaders, representing the majority of the prepaid calling market in the U.S., has created this association to protect the industry’s interests, good name and public trust by guaranteeing best practices, and by speaking with one voice for the industry and its consumers.
“We decided to form an association because of the need for the industry to address issues as a group,” said de la Garza. “Consumers will benefit from the association, which has pledged to provide a high value product for its millions of customers.”
The prepaid phone call industry started in the U.S. in the early 1990s, and is the most important lifeline immigrants have to stay in contact with friends and family back home. Prepaid phone calls offer an easy and most economical way to make international long distance calls from any telephone.
“I have been watching this industry from its beginnings,” said Retske, “and it is time for the leaders to come together and work as a team to help consumers get the best value from the services being offered.”
The association will work closely with consumer groups and government regulators to protect consumer rights by setting standards for prepaid phone call providers and their products. Prepaid phone call providers who want more information about joining APPPA should contact Gene Retske, Executive Director, at (803) 732-3866 or by email at email@example.com.
SOURCE American PrePaid Phonecall Association


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All New The Zenfone 3 Zoom, which made official by Asus at this year’s CES, Now available for purchase. Device (64GB variant) listed on the company’s Taiwanese online store carrying price tag of NT$ 14,990,
Price of the handset in China already known Company had last month revealed that 128GB variant the phone will cost RMB 3,699 there, around $540. Zenfone 3 Zoom will be landing the US sometime this quarter, and will start $399. Color options include Glacier Silver or Navy Black.


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GFI MAX, the managed service provider (MSP) division of IT services specialist GFI Software, has launched a new product that extends the reach of MSPs to smartphones and tablets.
The company’s newly launched, cloud-based GFI MAX Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution provides several of the essential RemoteManagement console tools that enable employers to support bring your own device (BYOD) initiatives without risking data loss or compromising their networks. The solution stems from GFI’s acquisition of VizualMobile, a provider of cloud-based MDM.
GFI is offering customers a “sneak peek,” of sorts, allowing them to enroll mobile devices on the platform free of charge and get basic information of the iPhones, iPads and Android devices that have invaded their networks.
The service’s other tiers — there are three in total — unlock added functionality. GFI MAX MDM provides mobile device tracking, remote wipe and locking capabilities. Automated provisioning tools allow administrators to configure security policies along with VPN, Wi-Fi and email settings on business-owned devices.
GFI sees a big opportunity in helping MSPs and organizations safely leverage the booming popularity of tablets and smartphones in the workplace. The company cites its own survey results, which show that 20 percent of mobile devices don’t have security enabled.
Fewer than a quarter of respondents said that their company’s security policies are enforced on their devices. GFI also found that 95.6 percent of mobile device users hop on a public Wi-Fi connection to access company data.
“As more and more digital natives enter the workforce, employees will likely have different expectations for mobile device usage at work as well as different tolerances for corporate standards or limitations,” said Dr. Alistair Forbes, general manager for GFI MAX. For MSPs, the solution helps them “create deeper relationships with their customers while enabling them to simultaneously protect their network and avoid the risk of alienating their employees,” he added.
And there are indications that MDM may be a big market opportunity for MSPs and essentially end free tech support for clients that want to on-board and manage new mobile devices. In a poll of GFI MAX customers, the company discovered that less than a third of MSPs (28 percent) were generating revenue from offering their customers mobile device support.
In a statement, the company boasted, “here’s the point where you stop working on mobiles free-of-charge and start monetizing the market.”
Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at Datamation. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.


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Apple has already announced the 2016 World Wide Developers Conference to the public and to developers. In fact, they had Siri announce the date and it still gives a pretty unique response. But earlier this week the company issued invites to the press and they announced a live stream of the opening keynote.
WWDC 2016 will kick off in just a few days on June 13th 2016 at 10AM(PST) or 1PM(EST). This is Apple’s annual developer conference and will show of the latest innovations to iOS, OS X, WatchOS, and tvOS. And they usually have a few surprises to show off, you might remember they previewed the Mac Pro a few years back and last year they unveiled Apple Music.
You will be able to access a live stream of the opening keynote on Apple’s website come June 13th.


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Minecraft reached a mind-blowing new milestone, releases new logo
Ten years ago Markus "Notch" Persson founded the gaming studio Mojang and after a year Minecraft was released. After years and years of breaking ......
'Minecraft: Pocket Editon' reaches 30 million sold
Mojang (now owned by Microsoft) has confirmed that their hit 'Minecraft: Pocket Edition game has now reached 30 million units sold.
Microsoft completes acquisition of Minecraft maker Mojang
Microsoft's Phil Spencer has confirmed the company's acquisition of Minecraft maker has completed, ahead of schedule.
Minecraft creator made over $100 million in 2012
According to a new article in the Swedish financial press, Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson made $101 million in licensing fees in 2012. ......